CV Therapeutics Inc., of Palo Alto, Calif., started a Phase II trial for CVT-510, a selective adenosine A1 receptor agonist, for the treatment of atrial arrhythmias. The trial is an open-label, dose-escalation study. Gilead Sciences Inc., of Foster City, Calif., terminated its U.S. HIV development program of Preveon (adefovir dipivoxil), following an FDA advisory committees refusal in November to endorse the drug because of its kidney toxicity and questions about its effectiveness. In talks with the FDA, Gilead learned additional clinical trials and data were needed to advance the product and that the FDA intended to issue a not approvable letter on the new drug application. The company decided it was not appropriate to pour more resources into the drug, considering its pipeline. Gilead just began a multinational Phase III study of another HIV drug candidate, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, which analysts had said would eventually cannibalize Preveon. (See BioWorld Today, Nov. 3, 1999, p. 1; and Dec. 2, 1999, p. 2.) Lexicon Genetics Inc., of The Woodlands, Texas, signed a functional genomics research agreement with BASF Bioresearch Corp., of Mount Olive, N.J., for the generation of custom knockout mice. BASF will provide Lexicon with the sequence of a gene it has identified as a potential drug target, and Lexicon will use its homologous recombination technology to generate knockout mice for the biological validation of that target. Financial terms were not disclosed. Matritech Inc., of Newton, Mass., said that its cervical cancer test, NMP179, was reliable and highly accurate in detecting pre-invasive lesions, according to the current issue of Acta Cytologica. The blinded study showed that NMP179 detected 96.7 percent of cases diagnosed as high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions in 261 cervical cytology specimens. Scientists from St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital and the University of Tennessee, both in Memphis, Tenn., have discovered that a linker protein called BLNK (B-cell linker) is essential for normal development of the immune system, according to a study published in the most recent issue of Science. The report states that mutations in BLNK cause a complete block in B-cell development in humans. Visible Genetics Inc., of Toronto, said the FDA advised the company that it is not required to complete its clinical trial, SEARCH, for the TRUGENE HIV-1 Genotyping Assay. The regulatory agency does not require further demonstration of the clinical utility of HIV genotyping in the treatment of HIV-infected individuals. The company will still be required to complete its proficiency trial, which is under way. As a result of the FDAs opinion, enrollment in the SEARCH trial is closed. Visible Genetics stock (NASDAQ:VGIN) closed Friday at $17.25, up $1.63, or 10.4 percent.
